The Wrath of All State Religions received by Baptists
We must always be consistent with our report that the Protestant reformers were sometimes as cruel as the Romans, and more often than not, the Anabaptists and Baptists were the targets of their cruelty. “Catholics and Protestants teach that according to tradition, reason, and Scripture, it is the godly duty of the saints to torture and burn men as heretics because of their pure love for their holiness and salvation. The Protestants said it was their sacred duty to slay schismatics, sectarians, dangerous men, who corrupted the Church and would not live in peace with the Reformed.”
[1] Examples of the grievous persecutions carried out against Baptists by Protestants during the reign of King Edward VI are recorded in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs in Latin, but have been omitted in the English edition to protect the reputation of some of the martyrs of Queen Mary who had persecuted Baptists during Edward’s reign. John Rogers, one of Foxe’s friends, demanded the death of those who opposed infant baptism. Rogers is reported to have remarked “That burning alive is not a cruel death, but a kindly and easy one.” Foxe is believed to have responded by saying, “Well, it may happen that you yourself will have a full taste of this gentle burning.” So it happened, Rogers became the first person to be burned in the reign of Queen Mary.”²
During the last year of King Edward’s reign, Humphry Middleton was imprisoned by order of the archbishop and was severely tortured by him. When the time came for him to be condemned in public court, Middleton said to him, “Well, my lords, give us what you think fit, but do not say that you were not warned, for your turn will be yours next.” And accordingly, King Edward died shortly afterwards, and the bishops were thrown into prison, but Humphry Middleton was burned at Canterbury on July 12, 1555, (today) in the reign of Mary (who was very Catholic).”³
It seems that the debate at that time was not about the method of baptism, but about when it should be baptized. Some followers of the Reformation baptized by immersion, but also taught that baptism washed away hereditary sins. The debate regarding infant baptism and believer’s baptism became so heated during Mary’s reign that the crowded prisons were filled with controversies between groups of prisoners who had different views on the nature of baptism.
We must remember that the nature of the systematic theology of state churches was often used as a basis for persecution. In contrast, there is no record of persecution by Baptists.
After reading this reflection, do you understand why the state should not take care of spiritual matters? The government is a servant of God, true, but please remember that it is only for matters of justice between humans, for example if someone steals someone’s belongings, kills someone, etc., it should not take care of the differences between someone who believes in baptism as a baby or as an adult. If it is about spiritual matters, it will definitely be used by the majority as a tool of persecution. After the era of the Theocracy of Judaism ended, then God did not want there to be a theocracy anymore, civil government should not take care of matters of faith and Spirituality. God gave humans the freedom to believe in Him, or refuse to acknowledge Him. Free.
[2]. All denominations that originated from Roman Catholicism still inherited their mother’s nature, namely liking to combine religion and state. Anglicans ruled England, Reformed ruled Geneva & Zurich, the Netherlands, Protestants ruled Germany, etc.
They left but FAILED TO UNDERSTAND the cause of the corruption of the Catholic church, namely because they united with the Roman Empire. When they left, they still made that fatal mistake, namely joining the worldly government, so they were recorded as persecutors too. The only ones who never persecuted people because of their faith were Baptists because they were never Catholics, even opponents of Catholicism since they were born Catholics, and never united themselves with any government.
[3]. Why did I fall in love with the ANABAPTISTS and the Baptist Church? Because of their historical records whose hands are clean from the BLOOD OF MARTYRS, in fact they are martyrs. Of course the most important thing is their biblical teaching. I am sure that lovers of truth throughout the ages who truly seek the truth will join a Baptist church like me. But be careful, now many Baptists have been exposed to the “virus” of various theologies, especially Calvinism. Baptists who hold the OSAS are not aware that there is still a Calvinistic virus in them. Christianity that survives until the COMING OF THE YEAR is one that dares to introspect and correct the doctrines it teaches.